As a self-organizing system the body “chooses” its response to an external or internal stimulus. This response is dictated primarily by the need to survive, i.e. its biological imperative. There are priorities in this process.
1) Brain vitality
2) Airway maintenance
3) Efficient use of energy
The mouth has a significant role in all these processes, over and above its familiar functions of food intake, digestion, communication, etc. It can be a major source of interference or it can be a physiological compensatory mechanism.
Orthodontic treatment must be designed so as to stimulate or enhance the body’s innate ability to self-correct and heal. The challenge for the clinician is to ensure an even distribution of energy throughout the body while providing the best possible aesthetic improvement.